Knee pain is a problem faced by many people, and there are various causes for it. Accurate diagnosis helps in determining the root cause of the inflammation and makes it easier to achieve relief through the various treatment options.

The importance of identifying knee pain must not be underestimated, because it is the first step towards getting an appropriate treatment for the condition. There are several causes that lead to severe knee pain, and it is necessary to get to the bottom of these causes. Failure to do so will mean that the individual will have to live with the pain for a long duration of time and will also be prone to suffering from relapses of the injury that is causing the pain.

This process is easier said than done though due to the general nature of the symptoms. If there is a fracture or ligament tear in the knee, it is relatively easy to spot, but most of the causes can only be detected by conducting some detailed tests. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered in order to determine the exact nature of the pain and its possible causes. The amount of time that the pain has been prevalent for, what the individual was doing when it was first felt, and many other considerations are crucial in the diagnosis of acute knee pain.

Diagnosis of Knee Pain

➜ Once the doctor has asked you pertinent questions, he/she will also prefer to perform certain imaging tests in order to view the condition of the knee. He/she will carry out an X-ray and a CT scan to check the stability and severity of the condition.

➜ Even your medical history will be studied by the expert in order to check if you have a family history of arthritis and other hereditary conditions.

➜ There are many physical symptoms, like swelling, bruising, and inflammation that usually accompany knee pain, and these will also assist in the process of diagnosis.

➜ There are also many maneuvers and postures that a doctor will carry out with the knees and legs in order to determine if you have an injury in your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL).

➜ An inability to execute certain movements of the leg often signifies a tear in one of these ligaments. Most of the time though, these maneuvers will not be enough to detect the damage and injury in the knee.

➜ So, the doctor will conduct an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test to view the damaged area and administer suitable treatment for that particular condition.

Anatomy of the Knee

➜ Understanding the anatomy and structure of the knee is one of the most vital pieces of information for understanding the injuries related to it. When a doctor conducts a lateral diagnosis on a patient, he/she must also explain the structure of the knee and its working.

➜ This helps the patient understand the nature of the injury more clearly and also enlightens him/her about the different precautions that must be taken in order to prevent the condition from deteriorating any further.

➜ The knee is a joint that bends and straightens and also rotates and twists. There are a number of different structures that it relies on for the purpose of carrying out these complex activities.

➜ There are 3 bones that are present in the area, namely: femur (thigh bone), tibia (calf bone), and patella (kneecap). The 4 ligaments mentioned above are fibrous bands that connect the bones to each other and are highly susceptible to damage.

➜ Apart from the ligaments, there are 2 tendons (structures that connect the bones to the muscles) present in the knee. They are the quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon.

➜ Then, there is the cartilage or meniscus, which is a lining along the kneecap that acts like a cushioning agent and reduces the stress faced upon impact. Lastly there is the bursae, which are the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the area around the knee.

➜ There are 3 types of bursae sacs as well, namely: the prepatellar bursae, anserine bursae, and infrapatellar bursae.

There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration for carrying out the diagnosis in order to achieve relief. After a thorough examination and questioning, the problem can be pinpointed and necessary intervention can be administered.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.